Glossary
P
Packing
Wearing a prosthetic, cloth padding or another form of non-flesh penis in underwear or a lower garment.
Padding
Use of undergarments, including breast forms, to create the appearance of larger breasts, hips or buttocks.
Pangender
Refers to an experience of gender that includes all genders. (Source: QMUNITY)
Pansexual
Someone who is attracted to and may form relationships with people of any or all genders. Pansexuality differs from bisexuality in that gender is not a factor in attraction (whereas for bisexual people gender is a factor).
Patient identifiers
Information used to distinguish one patient from another, such as name, date of birth, personal health number or other unique identifiers assigned by health care providers. These identifiers help ensure accurate identification and tracking of patient information in medical records and health care systems.
Penis
An erogenous and erectile organ located between the legs that consists of spongy tissue that can fill up with blood and may become firmer with sexual arousal. It is also a means for urination. A person may be born with a penis or have one surgically created. When referring to genitals, the Trans Care BC website uses "erogenous tissue (penis)" for trans people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and "penis" for trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB), but there are many different terms that individuals may use.
Penis construction
An umbrella term for gender-affirming genital surgeries that create a penis, including erectile tissue release, metoidioplasty and phalloplasty.
Phalloplasty
A gender-affirming lower surgery to create a penis and scrotal sac (phase 1) followed by testicular implants and implants to obtain rigidity/erection (phases 2 and 3).
Privilege
The social, economic and political advantages and power held by people from dominant groups on the basis of attributes such as gender, race, sexual orientation and social class. (Source: QMUNITY)
Pronouns
Personal pronouns are words used to refer to a person instead of their name. Common pronouns in the English language include she/her, he/him, and they/them. Singular they/them can be used for both unknown and known individuals, e.g., "Someone just left, but I didn't see who they were," or "Sam has just arrived, and they are ready for their appointment."
Prosthesis
Refers to a device that can be used to modify or enhance physical features to align with an individual's gender. This can include items such as breast forms, hip or buttock padding, packers, binders, or prosthetic genitals. This term can also refer to an inflatable or non-inflatable implant is placed inside the penis after phalloplasty, allowing the penis to become erect.
Puberty blockers
A group of medications for youth that temporarily suppress or inhibit puberty by suppressing the production of sex hormones and preventing development of secondary sex characteristics.